The crypto exchange Kraken is considering a possible IPO and at the same time is pushing ahead with the expansion of a strategic partnership in payment transactions.
• Kraken is a leading crypto exchange with over 15 years of experience in trading digital assets
• The crypto exchange is considering a possible IPO
• Kraken partners with MoneyGram
The crypto exchange Kraken says it has been offering trading and infrastructure solutions for digital assets for over 15 years. With Payward Services, the company is expanding its offering to include a B2B platform for stablecoin payments, crypto trading and other digital financial services for banks, fintechs, brokers, payment service providers and global platforms. Now possible IPO plans are apparently becoming a little more concrete.
Kraken considers IPO and partners with MoneyGram
As CoinDesk reports, Arjun Sethi, co-CEO of Payward and Kraken, said at the Consensus conference in Miami that the crypto exchange is considering an initial public offering (IPO) and is already “80 percent ready” for this step. In addition, the crypto exchange is also pushing forward a new partnership with MoneyGram to close the so-called “last mile problem”, i.e. the gap between digital assets and cash. MoneyGram says it offers a global service for cross-border money transfers: The company enables fast and secure transfers in cash, to bank accounts, wallets or cards via a global network of around 500,000 locations and digital channels.
MoneyGram CEO Anthony Soohoo spoke during the conference about a first joint step to solve this problem. At the same time, he pointed out that customers would still need access to cash. In this context, Sethi also emphasized that users in many regions continue to rely on cash: “People need cash at an onboarding location.” This is particularly crucial in regions with a weak financial structure, such as Latin America, CoinDesk continued.
Kraken IPO plans postponed, but not canceled
According to CoinDesk, Kraken initially put its IPO plans on hold following a confidential filing with the US Securities and Exchange Commission in November 2025. Citing statements made by Sethi during the conference, CoinDesk also reports that Kraken has largely completed the essential steps for an IPO, but is still waiting for the right time: the industry as a whole is in a state of upheaval, characterized by automation and increasing cost discipline.
Common goal: faster and cheaper financial systems
MoneyGram was privatized in 2023 and is repositioning itself for the long term, according to statements from Soohoo during the conference, according to CoinDesk. Together, both companies are pursuing the goal of making financial services accessible more quickly and cheaply – especially for people outside the traditional banking system, it goes on to say.
Svenja Polonyi, editorial team at finanzen.net
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